Senior Scientist – Molecular Design & Synthesis

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Summary We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist, Molecular Design & Synthesis to drive the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel molecular architectures that enable next-generation sequencing technologies. This role combines hands-on molecular synthesis with computational molecular design and cheminformatics. The successful candidate will contribute across the full Design-Make-Test-Learn (DMTL) cycle, applying computational and data-driven approaches to generate innovative molecular designs and leveraging experimental chemistry to synthesize, characterize, and validate those concepts. The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of chemistry and computation, translating molecular hypotheses into experimentally testable constructs while generating insights that guide future design strategies. Experience applying cheminformatics, molecular modeling, machine learning, or related computational approaches to accelerate molecular design and synthetic chemistry programs is strongly preferred.

Molecular Design & Cheminformatics (40-50%) Design and optimize novel molecular constructs using structure-property-function relationships and mechanistic insights. Apply cheminformatics, molecular modeling, computational chemistry, and data-driven approaches to guide molecular design and prioritization. Build, curate, and analyze molecular datasets to identify trends, establish design principles, and generate testable hypotheses. Analyze experimental results and develop predictive models that correlate molecular features with performance. Evaluate molecular properties including conformation, solubility, charge distribution, hydrophobicity, linker behavior, and other factors that influence molecular function. Utilize computational tools such as RDKit, Python, molecular visualization software, and property prediction workflows to accelerate design cycles. Assess and implement emerging artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to enhance molecular design and optimization. Assess synthetic feasibility and develop design strategies that balance molecular performance, manufacturability, scalability, and experimental throughput. Molecular Synthesis & Characterization (40-50%) Design and execute synthetic routes for peptides, oligonucleotides, linkers, conjugates, and other novel molecular constructs. Perform and optimize syntheses using techniques that may include: Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) Oligonucleotide phosphoramidite synthesis Click chemistry Bioconjugation chemistry Synthetic organic chemistry methodologies Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and develop innovative solutions to improve yield, purity, scalability, and robustness. Characterize molecules using analytical techniques including LC-MS, analytical and preparative HPLC, spectroscopy, and other relevant methods. Maintain accurate experimental documentation and effectively communicate scientific findings through technical reports, presentations, and cross-functional discussions. Project Leadership & Innovation (10-20%) Drive Design-Make-Test-Learn workflows across molecular development programs. Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams spanning chemistry, biology, engineering, sequencing technology, bioinformatics, and data